Cholesterol Blogs

I’m often asked what makes a good cardiologist. Aside from sound medical training, and plenty of years of clinical experience, here are things that make a cardiologist a “top doc” on my list.

Many doctors, including cardiologists, look at all the wrong numbers when it comes to cholesterol. If your cholesterol is over 220 mg/dl they get worried—if it’s over 300 mg/dl they panic. Then, they put you on statin drugs. Here's what your doctor should be measuring...

Despite what you’ve heard, saturated fat is actually good for you. It helps raise good cholesterol levels. So, go ahead and have a little fat for a healthier heart.

The guidelines about cholesterol are changing again. Learn about the new ratio that I recommend keeping an eye on in order to maximize your cardiovascular health.

The greatest heart health myth is that cholesterol causes all heart problems. My new book uncovers the truth about the high cholesterol hype. Get a preview and find out what's really important.

Should children at nine, or younger, be screened for high cholesterol and possibly put on statin drugs? Dr. Sinatra has a strong opinion on the matter. What do you say?
 

Make this a heart healthy Fourth of July. Before you bite into that burger, consider these heart-smart strategies for a healthier holiday celebration.
 

The drug companies have sold the American public a simplified version of cholesterol, that LDL cholesterol is “bad” and HDL cholesterol is “good.” They’ve propagated that message in order to sell more cholesterol medications, but that message is doing more harm than good...

Are your triglyceride levels high? To be in the healthy zone, you want your triglycerides to be 50-180 mg/DL. If your triglycerides are high, here are five easy ways to lower them.

The good news is that the death rate of people with diabetes is dropping, according to a recent study. But deaths from cardiovascular disease are still higher among people with diabetes. Understand the link between diabetes and your heart.
 

A recent study shows that weight loss reduces inflammation, which in turn could reduce high cholesterol.

Let's talk about three foods that can lower cholesterol and should be on every grocery list.

In my opinion, the only people who should be on a statin drug are middle-aged males with coronary artery disease. For these patients, the benefits outweigh the potential risks. 

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs can contribute to diabetes. Here's what Dr. Sinatra wants you to know...

When it comes to cholesterol, don't focus on the number. Focus on inflammation, the real cause of arterial destruction and cardiovascular disease.

Statin drugs may raise the incidence of heart failure because they deplete this important nutrient in the body.

The only people who should be on statin drugs are men over 50. Here's why...

If you’ve struggle with statin side effects—and you know I don’t recommend them unless you are a man over fifty with known heart disease—you may want to add avocados to your diet.

Apples are not only a healthy, delicious food they’re loaded with phytonutrients and fiber, which have been shown in studies to help lower blood cholesterol. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy them.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month, so I thought this was a good time to debunk one of the biggest myths—that high cholesterol is harmful. 

Many doctors fail to tell their patients that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs can cause memory loss. In fact, I’m convinced that a lot of what we call “senior moments” is really a drug reaction to statins.

Recently, Pfizer announced that it wants to introduce a version of its cholesterol-lowering statin drug Lipitor that consumers can buy without a prescription. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

As you may remember, on June 10 I reported on a new FDA warning about high doses of the statin drug Zocor. Now, new findings reported in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) are adding more fuel to that fire—that high-dose statins (80 mg) can increase a patient’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

While I applaud the FDA for coming out of the closet and saying that high-dose statin drugs can cause myopathy (or muscle weakening), it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Did you know you could be at a higher risk of cardiac events if you have both high levels of HDL “good” cholesterol and high levels of C-reactive protein?

A high level of HDL—the so-called good cholesterol—is generally associated with protection against heart attack. However, we now know that HDL can be further divided into subtypes HDL1 and HDL2.

For years, we’ve understood that having high blood levels of HDL cholesterol lowers your risk of developing heart disease. Now, a research publication reports that higher HDL levels are also associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Cholesterol is not the villain it's made out to be.

The ability to increase HDL cholesterol—the so-called good cholesterol—is generally associated with protection against heart attack. However, we now know that HDL can be further divided into subtypes HDL1 and HDL2. Both reduce heart risk factors, but HDL2 is far superior and provides more protection than HDL1.

High LDL cholesterol levels are thought to be a serious heart risk factor, but up to a certain level, LDL is really a good guy.

Two cholesterol tests to ask your doctor about.

High cholesterol is a signal that you should have a more sophisticated blood test that will measure the various subtypes of your LDL and HDL, and tell you whether your cholesterol warrants attention or is merely elevated.

The field of cardiology is finally realizing that although good cholesterol levels can help deter the biochemical process that creates damage in arterial walls—which in turn leads to plaque, occlusions, and clots—it’s a relatively minor one. In other words, they’ve realized that even though they may find cholesterol at the scene of the crime, it’s not necessarily the perpetrator.

There are four key heart risk factors that affect women more than men.

Contrary to popular belief, cholesterol is not a villain. Your body needs cholesterol to synthesize certain nutrients and hormones, construct the semi-permeable membranes around each of the 100 trillion cells that make up your body, and facilitate cell communication and memory in the brain.

Maintaining good cholesterol levels is important, but, contrary to popular belief, cholesterol is not a villain.

In the absence of any family history of cardiovascular problems and good cholesterol levels, how much should one be concerned about slightly elevated Lp(a)?

Here are tips to offset the inflammation caused by elevated Lp(a) levels.

Lately, Dr. Sinatra has been getting a lot of questions about the very small, dense, and highly inflammatory cholesterol particle known as lipoprotein(a)—or Lp(a) for short. 

Lipoprotein A, or Lp(a), is a component of LDL or “bad” cholesterol and high levels of it in your blood can be a serious heart risk factor.

There’s evidence that regular supplementation with L-arginine supports smooth muscle relaxation within the arterial wall. L-arginine is thought to be the primary source for the production of nitrogen molecules involved in maintaining the elasticity of blood vessels. Research has also shown that L-arginine may be helpful for people with high LDL cholesterol levels and for men who suffer from impotence.

Statins are potent anti-inflammatory drugs that have been shown to be able to do a phenomenal job of reducing cholesterol levels, while also decreasing the number of deaths from heart attack and stroke.

While drugs prescribed to help you attain healthy cholesterol can reduce LDL, they can’t alter Lp(a). If you find that Lp(a) runs in your family, you must attack it with an alternative approach.

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a component of LDL or “bad” cholesterol. LDL cholesterol levels that are too high can lead to cardiovascular problems and thus increase your risk of heart disease.

People who take statin drugs should also take certain supplements to promote heart and overall health.

Many of today’s fad diets revolve around modifying insulin resistance by consuming low-carbohydrate, high-protein foods and also advocate eating foods high in saturated fats and dairy products. This type of diet is likely to contain high levels of insecticides, pesticides, and radiation, which in the long run may increase your risk of cancer of the bowel, prostate, and breast and can increase your heart risk factors.

Crushed flaxseed is a perfect food for a cholesterol-lowering diet.

With all of the unnecessary attention lavished on HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, the importance of healthy triglycerides has been largely lost. And that’s too bad—because keeping them in a healthy range is essential to heart health.

While we know apples have numerous health boosting qualities; remember the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Did you know apples are actually one of the best foods you can add to a cholesterol lowering diet?

It’s one thing to say “eat more soy” to help maintain good cholesterol levels or as part of a plan for reducing cholesterol. It’s quite another to actually put that advice into action. So here are my top recommendations of soy-based foods and how to use them.

More than 30 clinical studies have shown that soy is highly effective as part of a cholesterol-lowering diet.

A new study by Kaiser Permanente reported an association between high cholesterol levels and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Eggplant, a nightshade vegetable, is high in fiber, manganese, vitamin B1, copper, and potassium. It also contains nasunin, an anthocyanin antioxidant that protects your cell membranes from damage—and fortifies your immune system. Eggplant helps promote healthy LDL cholesterol levels.

The lycopene in tomatoes helps to inhibit LDL cholesterol oxidation. Plus, eating a diet rich in vegetables is good for your LDL cholesterol levels in general.  

Niacin help promote a healthy cholesterol ratio.

One of the most important parts of maintaining healthy cholesterol is understanding how your body uses and manages this essential lipid. To help you get some perspective on what constitutes a good cholesterol level, I've identified 10 vital facts about cholesterol in the body.

Reducing cholesterol is relatively easy and doesn't usually require medication. It just takes a little discipline, some patience, and a cholesterol lowering diet.

Dr. Sinatra sets the record straight on cholesterol -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Dr. Sinatra offers natural ways to reduce your cholesterol.